DIPLOMATIC relations between Tranmere Rovers and Peterborough United Football Clubs were strained to the limit last night in a row over their Division Two match at Prenton Park next week.

DIPLOMATIC relations between Tranmere Rovers and Peterborough United Football Clubs were strained to the limit last night in a row over their Division Two match at Prenton Park next week.

Peterborough manager Barry Fry accused Tranmere of being " unsporting and unethical" in refusing to move the fixture back by 24 hours from Tuesday, January 22 to Wednesday, January 23.

Peterborough asked for the switch earlier this week after deciding to fix their FA Cup third-round replay against Darlington for Monday, January 21.

Fry's team now face the prospect of playing three games in four days: a home league fixture against Swindon tomorrow followed by games against Darlington and Tranmere on successive nights.

However, Tranmere pointed out last night that the fixture pile-up is of Peterborough's own making since the FA will allow them to choose any date up to and including Saturday, January 26 for the Darlington replay.

Tranmere also insisted they could not alter the date of the Peterborough game due to the "operational commitments" of Merseyside Police.

A Tranmere spokesman said: "The scope and extent of the safety and security arrangements for our FA Cup forthround tie against Cardiff on Sunday, January 27 are such that police rostas and detailed plans have been put in place for the proceeding week and these cannot be altered at such short notice."

But Tranmere's words of explanation did not satisfy Fry, an experienced manager who has a reputation for expressing his opinions forcefully.

Fry said last night: " Tranmere declined to put the game back a day which I think is very unsporting and unethical and gives them an unfair advantage.

"I think that just sums up football nowadays. Everyone looks after themselves and they don't give a **** about anybody else.

"That's how I feel about Tranmere. It's disgusting they did not put the game back.

"Darlington have the same problem as us. They were due to play at Cheltenham next Tuesday. Cheltenham were only too pleased to put it back a day so why can't Tranmere do the same to help us out," Fry fumed.

He added: "I have been on to the Football League and complained but they say it's Tranmere's game.

"They make all sorts of excuses. They say they have not let the police know in time. I think they have plenty of time to tell the police. They are just waffling along.

"I should imagine they are hoping our match on Monday goes into extra-time so it will be an even bigger certainty home win (for Tranmere)."

He said: "I feel that is very unfair for every other second division club that has got ambitions to get into the play-offs.

"I think the Football League as the governing body should look after its 72 clubs, not just one. I think they should make Tranmere play this game on Wednesday as we have asked them to."

"We only received their request on Wednesday morning and in accordance with police advice we cannot move the league fixture.

"Peterborough can, however, choose another date for their cup replay. We have written to Peterborough to explain the position and sent them a copy of the advice from Merseyside Police."

He added in ordinary circumstances it may have been possible for the police to have agreed to Peterborough's request but, in view of the events at Ninian Park earlier this month, the circumstances are exceptional.

"We will have the largest police presence in and around Prenton Park than ever before and rostas for the week commencing January 21 have already been distributed to hundreds of police officers.

"This is clearly a matter in which we must defer to the judgement of the police."

Relations between the two clubs have been less than harmonious since December when Tranmere criticised Peterborough for their failure to organise an early pitch inspection prior to the Division Two fixture at London Road.

The match was called off by the referee just before 1pm on the grounds that the pitch was unsafe by which time hundreds of Tranmere supporters had completed a wasted 170-mile journey from the Wirral to no avail.